The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf, on a five-count amended charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office.
Yusuf, who served as NHIS boss between 2016 and 2017, is accused of using his position to confer undue advantages on himself and awarding contracts without adhering to due procurement procedures.
The EFCC alleges that his actions resulted in financial irregularities within the health agency during his tenure.
Appearing before Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Yusuf pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
His defense counsel, O.I Habeeb, requested that the court allow him to remain in EFCC custody until the bail hearing. However, Justice Nwecheonwu clarified that once a defendant is arraigned, custody shifts from the EFCC to the correctional system.
The judge subsequently ordered Yusuf’s remand at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja and adjourned the case to February 12, 2025, for the hearing of his bail application.
The case has drawn significant attention, given Yusuf’s controversial tenure at NHIS, which was marred by allegations of financial misconduct. The EFCC has vowed to pursue the case diligently as part of its broader efforts to combat corruption in Nigeria’s public sector.
